prophage

American  

[proh-feyj] / ˈproʊˌfeɪdʒ /

noun

Microbiology.

1. a stable, inherited form of bacteriophage in which the genetic material of the virus is integrated into, replicated, and expressed with the genetic material of the bacterial host.

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prophage British  

/ ˈprəʊfeɪdʒ /

noun

1. a virus that exists in a bacterial cell and undergoes division with its host without destroying it Compare bacteriophage

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Etymology

Origin of prophage

1950–55; shortening of French probactériophage; pro- ¹, bacteriophage

Compare meaning

How does prophage compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• prophage vs. provirus

Example Sentences

This change creates two "chimeric proteins" composed of DNA from the prophage itself.

From Science Daily

"Wolbachia has genes from a virus called prophage WO integrated into its genome. These genes -- cifA and cifB -- allow the bacteria to remarkably manipulate sperm and quickly spread through an insect population for their own good."

From Science Daily

Wolbachia's prophage WO genes code for proteins that interfere with normal development of sperm cells.

From Science Daily

"By altering this non-coding part of the genome, we found that Cif proteins start impacting sperm right from the earliest stages of development. Wolbachia's prophage WO genes act like master puppeteers, manipulating sperm development in a way that allows their genes and the symbiotic bacteria to quickly spread through arthropod populations."

From Science Daily

Agenus said in September another vaccine candidate, Prophage Series G-100, increased survival, without the disease worsening, in a mid-stage study in patients with newly diagnosed GBM.

From Reuters